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Top Southern Arizona sports stories of 2025: November

By Javier Morales

Posted on December 31, 2025

Top Southern Arizona sports stories of 2025:

Arizona Athletics

No Loss November: The Wildcats achieved a rare feat in November 2025, becoming the only Division I program to go undefeated in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and football during the month.
Football’s Resurgence: Under coach Brent Brennan, Arizona won five straight games to finish the regular season at 9–3.
Territorial Cup Victory: The Wildcats reclaimed the Cup with a 23–7 win over Arizona State in Tempe on Nov. 28.
Bowl Eligibility: A victory over Kansas on Nov. 8 secured bowl eligibility, eventually leading to a Holiday Bowl invitation against SMU.
Men’s Basketball Starts Like Gangbusters: The team rose to No. 2 in the national polls after an undefeated start. Key victories included a 93–87 win over defending champion Florida in Las Vegas and road wins against top-15 teams UCLA and UConn. Freshman Koa Peat and senior Jaden Bradley emerged as early stars, with Peat scoring 30 points in the win over Florida.
Women’s Basketball Starts 6-0: The Wildcats started the season 6–0 in November under new head coach Becky Burke.
Repeat Champs: The triathlon team captured its second consecutive National Championship, while Kelly Wetteland won the individual national title.

Pima Community College

Basketball Teams Start Hot: The men’s team (No. 8 ranking) and women’s team (No. 5 ranking) both remained highly competitive through November, with the men eventually reaching 6-0 by month’s end and the women 5-1.
Men’s Soccer Reaches National Semifinals: The No. 7 seeded Aztecs fell to No. 1 Phoenix College 1-0 on Nov. 20 at Wichita, Kan. The Aztecs close out the 2025 season at 18-4 overall. They went undefeated at the West Campus Aztec Field for the second straight year at 9-0 (21-0 in the last two years at Aztec Field).
Gutierrez Named Player of the Year: Salpointe graduate Leo Gutierrez was selected the ACCAC/Region I, Division II Player of the Year. Gutierrez led the ACCAC with 21 goals and 48 points. He also had six assists as he has played in 18 games, making 17 starts.
Women’s Soccer Closes Successful Season in National Pool Play: The Aztecs finished the season 14-2-5 overall. It was the least amount of defeats they’ve had in a season since 2015 when they went 21-2-1. It was the first time they went undefeated in ACCAC conference play since 2007. They claimed the ACCAC Division II Championship and their first Region I, Division II and West District crowns since 2021.
Veliz Coach of the Year: Pima coach Kendra Veliz was selected ACCAC/Region I, Division II Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her career and the first time since 2015. She led the Aztecs to an 11-0-3 record in ACCAC conference play.

High School Sports

Mica Mountain Earns Spot in State Championship Game: The Thunderbolts earned the opportunity to defend their 4A state championship after throttling Yuma Gila Ridge 31-3 on Nov. 27. It was their ninth straight victory.
Salpointe’s Season Ends in 6A Semifinals: Salpointe’s season came to an end Nov. 28 in the 6A semifinal round with the Lancers losing 37-28 at Queen Creek Casteel. Pat Ryden’s team finished 7-6 in his second season coaching the program. The Lancers upset No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle 10-7 the week before on the road to advance to the semifinals. They played seven of their games in the Phoenix area, including the last four weeks, three of them in the postseason.
Desert View’s Historic Season Ends at 11-1: No. 6 Waddell Canyon View traveled to Tucson and got the 38-28 upset victory over No. 3 Desert View, ending the historical season for the southside school. Sophomore running back Jaylee Abraham was one of the many young sensations of a season in which Desert View won the most games in program history.
Marana QB Colton Meyer Ends Prolific-Passing Career: Meyer amassed a Southern Arizona-record 9,111 passing yards in less than three full varsity seasons, while leading the Tigers to a record of 21-3 over his last two season.
Ironwood Ridge Earn Girls Cross Country State Championship: The Nighthawks won their fourth state title, first since 2009. Sorella Natale, a senior, finished runner-up in the individual race.
- STATE RUNNERS-UP
- D-II Rio Rico Boys
- D-II Sorella Natale, Sr. Ironwood Ridge
- D-III Emiliano Caldera, Sr. Catalina
- D-III Pusch Ridge Girls
No. 1 Salpointe Wins 4A State Volleyball Title: Salpointe won its fourth volleyball state title with a 3-1 victory over ALA-Queen Creek on Nov. 15. Kate Mobley earned MVP honors.
Swimming Championships:
- The Catalina Foothills boys won a record 14 D-II championships and the first since 2014.
- The Tanque Verde boys won their first D-III state championship.
- INDIVIDUAL GOLD: Connor Daggett, Sr. Catalina Foothills (3), and Carissa Palomarez, Jr. Salpointe (3)
Salpointe Wins Flag Football Champsionship in First Season: Salpointe completed its first flag football season 16-1 with a state championship. The Lancers knocked off the top two seeds to claim the 4A championship in the first year of the program. Team USA QB Isla Collins was selected the Offensive MVP. She had 124 yards passing against Eastmark in the championship with 105 yards rushing and two TDs.
Three Local Baseball Standouts Sign With Division I Programs: Three Division I baseball signees — Canyon del Oro catcher Francisco Rivero and left-hander Regen Mazura and Salpointe center fielder Colton Raetzman — were honored at Frog & Firkin restaurant near the Arizona campus on Nov. 11. Rivero, ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect and the No. 3 catcher in Arizona by Perfect Game, signed with the Arizona baseball program. Raetzman and Mazura signed with Utah Tech.

Other Developments

El Tour de Tucson Another Success: The 42nd edition of the premier cycling event took place on Nov. 22 with nearly 10,000 participants.
Garmin Marathon Series Takes Place for First Time: The marathon series made its way to Tucson on Nov. 15 and figures to be a staple here for years to come because of the weather this time of year.
Mexican Pacific League Still Not Playing in Tucson: Due to ongoing visa issues with the federal government, games involving the Tucson Baseball League at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium continued to be canceled throughout the month of November. The Tucson Baseball Team played its schedule exclusively in Mexico.